Chapter 1

When I saw the positive pregnancy test results, I was so overwhelmed with happiness that tears streamed down my face.

Years ago, Logan Reed risked the wrath of the Moon Goddess just to claim me as his mate, even though our compatibility was almost zero.

For five years, we stayed together, but because our compatibility was so low, I was never able to get pregnant.

Now that my wish had finally come true, I couldn't wait to rush home and share the good news with him.

But just as I reached our front door, I heard the unmistakable sounds of intimacy coming from inside.

He said, "If it weren't for Henna's healing power helping me maintain my wolf form and giving me the upper hand in the fight for power, I never would've endured the agony of being bonded to someone so mismatched.

"Honey, you're my fated mate. Henna is just a stray wolf from the wilderness, utterly dull. I've been tired of her for a long time."

The woman inside was Lillian Grant, the fake heiress who had taken over my life for more than twenty years.

My eyes dimmed instantly. I gently placed my hand over my belly, feeling my inner wolf grow restless and howl in rage.

My fingers brushed the pendant at my neck, and my resolve hardened. It was time to reclaim everything that belonged to me and return to my own family.

*****

When I got the positive pregnancy test results at the hospital, I couldn't hold back my tears of joy.

Five years ago, the whole pack mocked Logan for choosing me as his mate, even though our compatibility was almost zero.

Forcing a bond like that would bring down the Moon Goddess's wrath, but he still insisted on taking my hand during the Moon Goddess ceremony, even if it meant enduring her lightning punishment.

But because our compatibility was so low, no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't conceive.

Finally, after all these years, I was blessed with a child. My heart was bursting with joy, and I couldn't wait to tell Logan the news I'd been longing to hear for so long.

But when I opened the door and saw a pair of high heels in the entryway that definitely weren't mine, a sense of dread washed over me.

Then, I caught the faint sounds of something indecent, and my smile froze on my face.

With heavy steps, I walked to the slightly open bedroom door, and the soft, intimate sounds drifted out.

My beloved husband was making love to another woman in our bedroom.

"Honey, when are you finally going to dump that old woman? Aren't you going to keep your promise to me?" Lillian's voice floated from inside the room.

The sounds of their intimacy filled the air, each one like a knife cutting into my heart.

I couldn't help but cling to the hope that maybe Lillian was blackmailing Logan, forcing him into this mess.

After all, Logan was always the perfect mate. He took care of everything at home so I never had to lift a finger, spoiled me with the best of everything, and made sure I felt loved every single day.

To everyone else, he was basically the perfect mate.

Then I heard him say, in a voice full of contempt—none of the warmth he used to show me, just plain annoyance.

He said, "If it weren't for Henna's healing power helping me maintain my wolf form and giving me the upper hand in the fight for power, I never would've endured the agony of being bonded to someone so mismatched.

"Honey, you're my fated mate. Henna is just a stray wolf from the wilderness, utterly dull. I've been tired of her for a long time.

"Don't worry. Just three more full moons of her healing and I'll be a top-tier werewolf for good. After that, she'll be worthless to me. I'll sever our mating bond even if the backlash tears me apart."

Lillian giggled, curling up in his arms. "Isn't that a bit harsh on Henna? She saved your life back then, and now you're just going to kick her away like that?"

Logan scoffed, his eyes icy and void of any warmth. "I never begged her to save me. She did it out of her own kindness. That's on her, not me."

The woman in his arms was Lillian, the fake heiress who stole my identity and claimed to be the Lycan King's noble-blooded daughter for more than twenty years.

The pain of betrayal hit me like a punch to the gut. I clutched my chest, my heart feeling like it was being torn apart, and stumbled back a few steps.

My inner wolf went wild, howling in frustration, as if it could feel the storm of despair churning inside me.

Instinctively, I placed my hand on my still-flat belly, a bitter, self-mocking smile tugging at my lips as I picked up the pregnancy test report with trembling hands.

Right now, that report felt like a cruel joke.

Logan swore he'd stick by me even if it meant going against the Moon Goddess, and we'd fought side by side so many times. It turned out that he was pretending the whole time. It was all fake, nothing real.

To him, being my mate was never about love. I was just something he used to get ahead, nothing more than a pawn in his game.

Inside, the two of them were lost in each other, their passion filling the air. I closed my eyes, feeling a chill settle over me, and my fingers absently traced the gemstone pendant hanging around my neck.

This pendant was the mark of the Lycan King, and the sign that I was his rightful daughter.

Not long ago, when an elder revealed my true identity, I was torn about whether to return to the complicated world of the Lycan Royalty.

My first instinct was not to mess up my peaceful, happy life by getting dragged into all the family's scheming and power games.

But now, after I saw those two shameless lovers tangled up together, I changed my mind.

I was taking back everything that was mine, and I was dumping Logan that jerk.

I didn't burst in and expose them. Choking back my tears, I quietly turned and walked away.

That very day, I went to the hospital and ended the pregnancy I'd once dreamed of.

The thought of my child inheriting Logan's inferior genes made me sick. I'd rather not have a child at all than let it carry his blood.

Besides, there was no way I'd let a child become a chain to keep me trapped.